Help clean up lakes at Ibini Tera event

Northwest - In Brief

September 4, 2005

TAVARES -- Volunteers are needed for the Ibini Tera Lakes Cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 at more than a dozen bodies of water in Lake County.

Ibini Tera is a combination Timucua and Spanish term meaning "water without silt," loosely translated to "clean water," said Maryann Utegg, Lake County watershed action volunteer coordinator for the St. Johns River Watershed District. She is the Ibini Tera chairwoman this year.

The event was founded four years ago by former state Rep. Everett Kelly.

"The St. Johns River Management District hosted several river celebrations throughout the 18 counties within our district, and then we asked the local municipalities to kind of pick up the banner and continue them on a local level," Utegg said.

If interested, call the volunteer hotline at 352-365-8289. A watercraft is not required. Each site will have a designated captain who will lead the cleanup.

There will be barbecue and live folk music at Hickory Point on Lake Harris at noon. Informational displays from the Native Plant Society, the Lake County Water Authority, Lake County Master Gardeners and other groups will set up at the luncheon.

Prizes will be awarded, including the most pounds collected by one group, strangest object found and filthiest volunteer.

Artists from the Lake Eustis Institute will make sculptures from some of the objects found.

Volunteers will be given T-shirts, gloves, trash bags, bug wipes and other necessary equipment.

Hickory Point Recreational Facility is at 27341 State Road 19 in Tavares.